Asifa Zia -The Realtor YOU want

     At the close of last year, many real estate experts predicted the U.S. Federal Reserve would  raise interest rates in 2015 . That prediction never came to be, but even if rates rise later this month or next year, Ralph McLaughlin, a housing economist at Trulia, doesn't think it will scare away many buyers. If rates do increase, it could be as little as a quarter percent. McLaughlin doesn't expect that to have a big  impact on the market , but it could temper home price growth, "which is good news for prospective homebuyers," he says. "Interest rates won't have much of an effect on the 'rent versus buy' math," he explains. "Buying would still be cheaper than renting in most metros around the country." The threat of last year's rumored rate increase propelled some prospective buyers into action, but Nela Richardson, chief economist for national real estate brokerage Redfin, doesn't see that same pattern repeating

                                           Whenever you have done a Real Estate transaction, you have heard this word.  And sometimes when you are about to do a Real estate transaction, your Realtor talks about this account.            I will try to explain, what this account is about and why is it important.        When an offer is accepted, the earnest money is deposited into the Real estate brokers escrow account. At closing the earnest money is received back.            An Escrow account is basically a holding account. When you are buying a house , a title company, or a lawyer holds the deposits and the paperwork. So that details are worked out between buyer and seller. At the closing, the escrow officer, records the deed and the funds are distributed.          After the sale, the mortgage lender sets up an account. The account is set up to pay certain property related expenses on the buyers behalf, for example, property insurance, homeowners insurance etc. Each month, you pa

                      To some people, broken windows, dilapidated roofs or collapsing porches mean trouble. People like Kenny Rushing, a Tampa, Florida-based real estate investor, see dollar signs. "More than 60 percent of the houses I have bought in Tampa were condemned properties," says Rushing. "I have yet to lose money on those." How Properties get Condemned Local authorities condemn buildings for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the government wants to build something in its place and will condemn the property as part of an eminent domain proceeding. Or, it could be a construction, maintenance, or pest issue that makes the structure unusable for its original purpose. In some cases, the repair or maintenance needed is relatively straightforward, but the owner does not always have the resources or know-how to make the repairs or renovations. In these cases, the owner is almost always a motivated seller. Selling the property may help the owner get a

                                            Most of the people dont know but,  Manassas Park  is an  independent city  in the  state  of  Virginia . It is not part of Manassas City, or Prince William county.  Manassas Park was incorporated as a town in 1957 and was incorporated as a city in 1975. Its area is 2.6 sq miles The city has its school system, police, fire and rescue, and public works system. And also its own social services department.  “When Manassas Park was established, the community selected for its motto "Salus Populi Suprema Lex," which means "The Welfare of the People is our Supreme Law." Today, we continue to strive to be truly responsive to the needs and concerns of all our citizens and the business community.”   Mayor Frank Jones                                                                                                   Living in Manassas Park is very convenient. Its very close to shopping. All the major grocery stores

                                    by  Housecall For a home to remain in good shape throughout the winter it needs regular care and attention. When a home is occupied, many of the things that are necessary to keep it in good working order happen by default. But when the home is vacant, it is up to the owner or the property manager to prepare it for freezing temperatures and other winter risks. The worst risk comes from bursting pipes, which can lead to water damage that can significantly impact the value of the home. Left alone, water can ruin everything it touches – walls, floors, electrical systems, etc. It can even damage the foundation. Other risks exist as well, such as pest infiltration, that can leave nasty surprises for the homeowner. Taken together, the dangers of failing to winterize a home are too severe to ignore. Any real estate agent who has been involved with selling bank owned properties or vacant short sales can certainly tell you the necessity of knowing ho

            Posted  by  Keller Williams Realty International With the cooler weather usually comes cooler home sales as well.  However, for the savvy seller, fall and winter could prove to be a very successful home selling season. In the winter, there is less competition on the market and winter buyers may be more motivated to buy as their need to move is more pressing. Motivated to sell this winter? Here are some tips for winter selling: 1.  Take photos of the house on sunny days  before the clouds take over and the leaves fall from the trees. Sellers want to be sure to show the full potential and beauty of the home. Reach out to clients now and suggest they get photos taken of their home in preparation for cold weather selling. 2.  Create a virtual video tour  of the home. In areas where the weather can get be especially stormy, offering potential buyers the opportunity to first see the home from the comfort of their own computer is helpful. 3. When hosting an open house,

When a buyer decides they are ready to purchase a home one of the most  frequently asked questions from home buyers  is, “should I buy a foreclosure?”  The answer to this common question is that it depends and there is no absolute answer. For some home buyers purchasing a foreclosure maybe an excellent option while for others it maybe the worse idea ever.  As with most things, there are PROs and CONs to purchasing a foreclosure in real estate. If you’re deciding whether you should buy a foreclosure or not, read on to find out what a foreclosure is and what the PROs and CONs of buying a foreclosure are. What Are The Different Types Of Foreclosures? A common misconception that exists with foreclosures is that all foreclosures are the same.  There are actually several different types of fore closures that exist.  Below are some of the most common types of foreclosures that exist in real estate. Pre-Foreclosure/Lis-Pendens Filed By Lender A pre-foreclosure is a property th